Yolanda D. Payne
Research Associate at the Georgia Institute of Technology
Yolanda D. Payne is an educational technology leader, researcher, and passionate advocate for empowering the next generation of creators through invention and intellectual property education. Serving as a Research Associate at the Georgia Institute of Technology, she teaches Startup Lab courses and develops Intellectual Property Advocacy curricula within the Vertically Integrated Projects program. As the founder and CEO of Teacher Tech Knowledge, Yolanda partners with educators nationwide to deliver high-impact professional development in physical computing, artificial intelligence, and invention education.
A proud holder of a provisional patent and an inaugural member of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Master Teacher of Innovation Program, Yolanda bridges the gap between technical engineering concepts and K-12 classrooms. Her extensive leadership includes roles with the Computer Science Teachers Association, Regional Ambassador with The Inventors Patent Academy, and an Invention Education Fellowship with Society for Science. She holds degrees from Mississippi University for Women, Mississippi State University, the University of Florida, and the University of Georgia.